Dog warden heads West to sniff out unlicensed mutts

THE dog warden is heading for West Kerry to sniff out unlicensed mutts and fine their law-breaking owners.

Notices posted through the letterboxes of houses throughout Dingle warn dog owners – and even people who don’t have a dog at all – that every dog must have a licence. Offenders face a fine of €100 for each unlicensed dog.

The notices don’t say that Kerry County Council has any reason to believe the dog owners of Dingle and surrounding areas are failing to meet their licensing responsibilities but, just in case, they’re reminding people that dog licences can be bought at the post office or online at payments.kerrycoco.ie.

Under the Control of Dogs Act, every dog aged over four months must be licensed, and the person holding the licence must be at least 16 years old.

A person also has to be aged over 16 to have a Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd, Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or Bandog – or any cross of these breeds – in a public place. And when they’re out, these ‘dangerous’ dogs must be muzzled and kept on a short leash.